Internet2 Commons Technology

Dr Bob Dixon
Chief Research Engineer OARNet
and

Ohio State University

Internet2 Commons Site Coordinator Training December 3, 2003 National University of Singapore

Video Conferencing
vs

Video Broadcasting
Video Conferencing
Like a telephone call Two - Way Call up or Answer

Video Broadcasting
Like watching Television One - Way Tune In or enter URL Streaming Webcasting
2

Internet Unicast Video Broadcasting

Minnesota New York

Colorado

Internet
Ohio
3

Internet Multicast Video Broadcasting

Minnesota New York

Colorado

Internet
Ohio

Internet Point-to-Point Videoconferencing

Minnesota New York

Internet
Colorado Ohio
5

Internet Multipoint Videoconferencing

Minnesota New York

Colorado

Internet
MCU
Ohio
6

Two Types of Video Conferencing

Traditional
Use in special room; rare Uses ISDN telephone lines
High installation cost High usage cost Usage at plateau Scheduled in advance

Internet
Use anywhere; ubiquitous Uses Internet
Low installation cost No usage cost Usage growing rapidly Impromptu Do-it-yourself Decentralized control H.323 standard
7

Professional operator Centralized control

H.320 standard

Requirements for Good Quality DESKTOP Internet Videoconferencing

1. Fast PC. 300 MHz minimum. 450 MHz best.

2. Good quality video conferencing equipment. Forget web cameras. Forget software like Netmeeting.
3. GOOD Internet connection. Most large university networks are good. Forget 56K modem dial-in. Cable modems and DSL are possible. 8

Video Conferencing Products

1. Software-based Generally slow and non-standard; not very satisfactory. Examples: Microsoft NetMeeting, White Pine CUSeeMe. 2. Hardware-based, plug into PC USB Port. Newest approach; will become ubiquitous Examples: Polycom ViaVideo, VCON ViGo. 3. Hardware-based, PCI-bus cards install inside PC. Added features and controls, beyond USB systems. Examples: Zydacron Z340, VCON Escort 25. 4. Hardware-based, standalone, no PC involved. Easiest to use, best quality. Example: Polycom Viewstation 128

Typical Equipment for Video Conferencing

Desktop and Laptop: Polycom ViaVideo - cost $400 Also requires PC

Classroom and conference room: Polycom Viewstation - model 128 - Cost $4000 Also requires TV monitor or projector
10

H.323 Video Components

PC Client
Appliance
Local H.320 Video Room

VIU

Gatekeeper
Remote H.320 Video Rooms ISDN Telephone Lines

Multipoint Control Unit Gateway

Internet
11

Multipoint Control Unit (MCU)

1. Allows more than two people to be in a video conference.

2. May be physically located anywhere on Earth.

3. Functions as an Internet server for video conferencing.

4. Every persons audio is always heard by all others.

5. Video from the person who talks loudest is seen by all.

6. Various brands have various capacities and features.

7. Multiple MCUs may be cascaded together for larger video conferences. Or used separately for more simultaneous video conferences.

12

Gateway (GW)
1. Joins H.320 ISDN video calls with H.323 Internet video calls. 2. Calls may be initiated from either side. 3. May be physically located anywhere on Earth.

4. Various brands have various capacities and features.

5. Multiple gateways may be used for more simultaneous calls.

13

Video Interface Unit (VIU)

1. Connects an existing H.320 video conferencing room to the Internet, as an H.323 station. 2. Must be located in or near the video conferencing room.

3. Multiple VIUs can be used with multiple room systems.

14

Gatekeeper (GK)
1. Controls all MCUs, gateways, VIUs and clients in its zone. A zone is any collection of H.323 devices you choose to work closely together. The devices may be physically located anywhere on Earth.
2. All H.323 devices must register with a gatekeeper, before they can do very much. 3. There can be only one active gatekeeper in a zone. 4. May be physically located anywhere on Earth. 5. May be physically located in an MCU, a gateway, a router, or a PC. But it is independent of them. 6. Multiple gatekeepers may be neighbors of each other, in different zones. 15

Gatekeeper (GK)
(continued)
7. Provides calling with telephone numbers and nicknames, instead of IP addresses. A gatekeeper is analogous to a domain name server, in this sense. 8. Provides optional control of what each user can do: bandwidth and speed limits access to gateways, VIUs and MCUs 9. Note that calls DO NOT go THROUGH a Gatekeeper.
16

How can I test my equipment or just try this out?

Connect your H.323 client to the Free Love MCU at Ohio State University. To do so, set your gatekeeper address to 128.146.199.52.

Set your speed to 384K.

Dial 00111097001234 .

17

Useful References
1. Educause Quarterly tutorial article

www. educause.edu/pub/eq/eqm00/eqm004.html
2. The Video Conferencing Cookbook, and other materials at http://vide.utk.edu 3. The Megaconference http://www.mega-net.net/megaconference
18